Display container



Feb. 6, 1951 M. GLUCKMAN DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Feb. 20, 1946 TELL:\.Z.

INVENTOR MAXFIELD GLUCKMAN Q Q ATTORNEYS inner side thereof.

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

tween the cover and the tray portion of the container.

Another object is to provide in unit form a number of individual transparent containers which may display merchandise in such a way that each container will be in view without obscuring other merchandise.

Other objects will be apparent after a study of the following description, claims and drawings in which- Figurel is a side elevation with portions partially cut away showing a display rack and a number of containers arranged in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a front'elevation of a display rack and containers; and

Figure 3 illustrates the container details in partial cross section. Referring now in more detail to Figure 1 there may be seen a display rack indicated generally by the numeral 5 3 containing a number of containers indicated generally by the numeral 2 l. Display rack H is comprised of a base and two upporting arms. l2 and I3 connected by transverse pins or rods M, or other suitable connecting means.

Attached to each side l2 and 13 of the base are side arm supports l5 and I6. Each side arm support has a number of flanges l1 and I8 positioned periodically along their length on the These flanges l1 and I8 ar ranged in pairs along side arm supports l5 and I6 form the supporting means for containers 2|. Each pair is in a common plane and the distance between the flanges along each side arm [5 and I6 is equal to the thickness of container 2| so that each flange supports the bottom of one container and the top of another.

As may be seen in Figure 1 side arm supports l5 and i6 are elongated rectangular sections running upwardly from sides l2 and I3. As illustrated each flange l1 and I8 extends across a The base is made up of two sidessubstantial portion of the Width of each arm l5. Container 2! may be inserted between arms I5 and It and between flanges ll and 58 so that the forward edge extends well out in front of arms l5 and Hi. In this way the support of container 2! is a cantilever action.

It will be apparent that although each flange has been illustrated as a single piece running across arms 15 and it other forms of support may be used, such, for instance as a series of pegs.

In the preferred form, upwardly extending arms i5 and I6 are not normal to the plane of the base but slope backwardly somewhat. In this way, containers it placed between side arms l5 and i6 are staggered, thus providing a better View of each container. At the same time each container 2! may be readily slipped out of the rack by a sales person from. the back.

With the construction described the display rack II is open so that when placed over a counter, for instance, having a glass top the rack will in no way interfere with the view of the merchandise beneath. However, if the display rack is to be used in such a way that it is not material that the rack obscure the material on which it is placed .then any form of base will be satisfactory for supporting side arms l5 and it. Also,.

these arm supports may be mounted against and supported by a wall space or wall fixture if desired.

The rack may be made of suitable material such as, for instance, wood plastic, or a light metal. It also may be made to support any desired number of containers 2 l.

Container 2i is comprised of two principal parts, a tray 22 and a cover 23. The container may be any shape desired. However, I prefer to use a rectangular form since this form is more satisfactory for support between flanges i7 and I8 of the displa rack H. Each tray portion 22 and cover 2-3 may be made from a transparent sheet plastic material having sufficient rigidity to be self-sustaining when shaped to a desired configuration.

Thus, tray 22 may be made of one piece by bending upwardly each edge so as to form suitable sides for the tray. As may be seen in Figures 1 and 3, one side 24 of tray 22 forming. the front edge thereof, slopes outwardly for reasons which will hereinafter be apparent.

Cover z3 may be formed of one sheet of the same material with the sides bent downwardly so as to form three walls. The side Walls of cover 23 are complementary to the'side walls of tray 22. Forward. wall 25 of cover 23 slopes inwardly so as to be complementary to the forward wall 24 of cover 23.

The tray 22 and cover 23 may be formed by molding. This method is preferred if larger sized containers are to be provided.

It is not necessary that the fourth side of cover 23 be formed. However, along thi edge there is provided an elongated ridge 2% affixed by any suitable means such as cementing. Ridge 29 may be of any desired shape, cylindrical, octagonal, or other, so long as it provides an enlarged edge extending across the edge of cover 23.

The container may be subdivided if desired by inserting one or more transverse or longitudinal strips making a number of compartments of any sibe desired and the strips may be cemented in position or made removable.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 3, cover 23 is somewhat longer than tray 22. Thus, cover 23 may be, placed over tray 22, as shown in Figure 3, with forward side overlapping and extending beyond forward side 2 of tray 22. The ridge 29 of container 21 may then be grasped between the thumb and forefinger with the other fingers oi the hand pressing against the rear side wall of tray 22. Grasping the container in this way causes cover 23 to slide backwardly so that forward wall 25 of cover 23 fits closely against forward wall 2 or" tray 22. The sloping walls thus engaged form a suitable interlocking between the tray 22 and cover 23 so that the container 2! may be readily carried about in one hand without separating.

Each container 2 l is then slipped into position in rack i i as previously described. The container may be shoved forwardly in. rack it until ridge 26 abuts against upper flange 68. In this way ridge 25- serves to prevent container 21 from moving forwardly and falling out the front end of rack H and at the same time the pressure of flange it caused cover 23 to be forced backwardly so thatforward wall 25 is looked around the forward wall of the tray 22. Thus, wh n the container is in position in the rack, cover 23 is locked on tray 22.

With the merchandise thus on display in container 2i a closer inspection may be desired. The sales person then grasps container 25' drawing it back out of rack H. Being of a smooth plastic finish the container 21 is drawn out of position readily without catching in any way either the rack or other container which may be mounted thereon.

It is not necessary that the rack I! be used. The construction is such that the containers 2| are admirably suitable for stacking, that is, each container resting on and supported by the one beneath. Each is held in interlocked position by the abutting action of ridge 29 against the rear wall of the container immediately above.

Since each container has smooth fiat surfaces, one of the stack may readily be withdrawn without binding or catching the adjacent containers. In the course of withdrawing one container, the container immediately above, resting thereon, slides down smoothly over the rounded forward edge of the cover 23, into the space occupied by the one withdrawn.

The sales person having the container grasped in one hand may set it on the counter along side of the rack. The container is quickly and conveniently opened with the same hand by a forward and upward thrust of cover 23 thus removing the interlocking engagement of walls 24 and 25 as illustrated in Figure 3. The cover 25 may then be placed on its back along side of tray 22, providing a convenient additional tray into which merchandise originally contained in tray 22, may be placed.

The above description constitutes the pre-' ferred form. It will be apparent that a great many modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for displaying merchandise for sale comprising a tray portion and a cover portion, said tray portion being of a smooth-finish non-fibrous material with the side at one end thereof sloping outwardly, said cover being of a smooth-finish non-fibrous material and having side portions with the side at one end thereof sloping inwardly, said inwardly sloping side corresponding to and complementary to said outwardly sloping side of said tray, said cover being longer than said tray and an enlarged portion on the other end of said cover forming an abu ment for the application of pressure to retain said cover on said tray with said complementary sloping sides in contiguous relationship.

2- A c ntaine iQr isp in m r h di comprising a tray portion and a cover portion, said tray portion being formed of one-piece transparent smooth-finish non-fibrous material, forming smooth rounded edges and corners and with the forward side, sloping outwardly, said cover portion being formed of one piece transparent smooth-finish non-fibrous material form ing smooth rounded edges and corner with the forward side sloping inwardly complementary to the outwardly sloping side of said tray portion, the rear of said cover being open and having an extended lateral surface, said extended surface having an enlarged ridge along the end thereof extending transversely and forming an abutting surface for pressure exerted longitudinally of said cover.

MAXFIELD GLUCKMAN.

REF RENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

